Okay so I said I was going to do some I LOVE CROATIA posts and here's the very first one.The week we left the US in May of 2000 there were three cases in Dallas of children being taken from their homes in the middle of the night. It was horrifying. When we arrived in Croatia our children were very young; Cody was 7, Joshua was 4 and Hannah was 2. I was to say the least a little bit protective.
After we arrived and settled in our house things began to slow down a bit. It was time for life and play for the kids. After school I would let them play in the front and I would sit on the porch and watch them. They never left my sight at any time. I was trained well from living in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and I knew how to watch over my brood.
Anyhow after being in Croatia for a few months the neighbor lady came over and asked to take Hannah (then 2) next door to her house for some treats. I was taken back by the gall of this lady asking to take my child without me and I sweetly declined the invitation. Later talking with on of the ladies in our little group of Christians I realized that that was totally normal here. Month after month I began to notice something; Croatia wasn't at all like the US. Croatia was actaully a very safe place for children to grow up. I had mentioned to a lady about abductions in the US and she sincerelly asked me, "What do they do with the little girls when they take them?". I couldn't believe that she didn't know what abductors did with their abductees. Could there really be a place on Earth where this didn't happen?
For many reasons Croatia is much safer than the US. For one, Croatia is so small that you could fit 3 or 4 Croatias in Texas. Croatia has 4.5 million poeple while the Dallas/Ft. Worth and surrounding areas have almost that many people. One other very crucial thing: Croatia is surrounded on all sides by armed border workers on duty 24 hours a day. It is very difficult to abduct a child in such a small countroled country.
I realize that the US and Croatia can't really be fairly compared because there are so many varibles but it is a very true statement that Croatia is at least 70% safer than the US.
We have been in Croatia for almost 9 years now and I have enjoyed allowing our kids to play without supervision. They have been priviledged to play and live as we did 30 years ago, making club houses in the woods and exploring the world around them. Our city is so safe that our kids could walk to the downtown part and be perfectly safe, if they stay out of the way of traffic. :0)
Croatia is so safe that it is totally normal to see 14 year old girls hitch-hiking along busy streets. Hitch-hiking is legal in Croatia and a well used form of transportation. No!, I do not let my kids hitch-hike but I believe for the most part they would be safe.
I'm declaring my love for the country God has called us to because it's so safe for our children.
Our children have grown without the fear that many children in America live with daily, for this reason, I LOVE CROATIA!
Wow, that sounds so unbelievable!!! Is it so great! Spain is not saved at all. I need 7eyes when we are in the park because I am afraid someone may take them. It happens way too often in Spain.
ReplyDeleteHaving children I sure understand that this is a great reason to love Croatia :)
Tori - for a girl who has more or less never been out of the States, that is unimaginable. It must be so lovely to know your children are so safe!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading more of your I Love Croatia posts!
Amen Tori!!
ReplyDeleteI dido all you said...exactly the same here in Portugal....
Haven't we said this before??? Croatia and Portugal almost seem like the same country!
WOW this is such a good idea! I could so do "I heart Mexico" for some things.
ReplyDeleteAnd when you I checked my comments this morning I TOTALLY did"Johnny? I don't know a Johnny." . . .lol
I'm really envious your ability to let your kids be raised like that *sigh* sadly,while I feel safer here in Mexico, we don't feel THAT safe. Sad to say, I'm afraid those who would take our little girl would know what to do.
Praise God for his protection over our lives up to this day. I raise our Ebeneezer.
That is one of the reasons I love Gijón, Spain too. I think this has a lot to do with the law against bearing arms. Also there is almost no kid napping. I too came to Spain holding on to my baby so tightly and cringing every time an other woman whisked him out of my arms, but by the third one I was handing them off. hahaha
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord that we can honestly say we love the countries God has called us too!!
How encouraging your post has been to my heart!
Thanks to for joining in the Hair dare vote!! ;) You´re with my hubby on the length. .I am still wavering on what to do.
I just read Pilar´s comment..I think our city has been voted the safest city in Spain. this doesn´t say that nothing bad happens but it´s really calm. Anyway.. So glad that Croatia is safe for your beautiful children! It is a plus!
ReplyDeleteWell, I would love that, too! That's great, Tori, and it's also great to count those blessings. :o)
ReplyDeleteWhile I can't say that I love Canada because my kids are so safe, I can say that we are safer here than in the US. I still don't let my daughter go anywhere alone (she's 16) but I see many women and girls alone, even after dark. Even elderly women, which amazes me. In Ft. Worth, that just wouldn't happen, and old people had to be protected just as much as the young ones. Anyway, while it's safer here, it's not as safe as Croatia, and sadly, it is becoming less safe here. Gun crime in Vancouver is skyrocketing, mostly gang-related. I'm looking forward to your I Love Croatia posts! I'll have to see if I can come up with something like that for Canada - because I do love it!
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing! Things could be better in the U.S. if the judges wouldn't be so lenient on the criminals. It makes my blood boil when I see a child abuser get off lightly.
ReplyDeleteYour children will have great memories of Croatia!
How wonderful for you! The U.S. is less and less safe each year I think and I live in a rural area of 3500 people. All mission fields have their perks and I'm glad you will be posting about them.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I love the way you love where you serve! So do I. :)
ReplyDeleteDid you close your other blog? I enjoyed reading about your success and getting the weight loss tips. I wanted to refer a good friend of mine to that blog, but it said it was open only to invited readers and I wasn't one. :( Sorry if I'm being nosey! Your blogs are a blessing!
What a great gift to be able to give your children. A wonderful childhood pretty much without the fear of weirdos.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear more about Croatia.
I am so greatful that God called us to Croatia as well! I don't know how soon I'll feel comfortable letting the children out of my sight though. :)
ReplyDeleteDid you hear about the Pastor that I can't wait until we are finally "home". :)
Wow! That is a blessing, Tori! I remember a time when I was a child that it was pretty safe here in my small town in Alabama but those days are gone and I watch over my kids like a hawk.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to more of your "I love Croatia" post :)
Wow! Praise the Lord for the blessing of raising your children in a safer environment!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your "I love Croatia" post and look forward to more in the future, too!
~ Christina
WOW its hard to imagine that there is such a place on earth!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful it would be for our children to grow up as we did.. to be allowed to play down the street with friends .. to take walks or bike rides.. I couldnt even fathom it here where I live.
Praise the Lord for such a WONDERFUL place Tori..
Cant wait to read more!
What a blessing to know that your children can FREELY...PLAY! The innocense of our children are robbed in America.
ReplyDeleteA great blessing for you as you focus on the needs of the souls around you as well.
God bless your endeavors there Tori!
HOPE